(Hundreds of slips of paper fill an orange box with a narrow slit in the top. The box was for the female nominees. They repeat the same thing over and over again, just in various handwriting.)
Gwynevere Grim.
Gwynevere Grim.
Gwynevere Grim.
Gwynevere Grim.
---------------------
"Didn't you hear, Elise? Apparently, Gwyn has some fans trying to have her be the Queen this year," Astrin said, still as surprised as when she learned the information the first time.
Elise narrowed her eyes at Gwyn.
"Really? I didn't know you had any interest in that, Gwynevere."
"I don't!" Gwyn said honestly.
Myria took a small sip of her drink.
"Yeah, I'd rather die than win that crown."
"Me too. Well, I wouldn't be surprised if you win, Gwyn." Astrin raised a glass to her lips. "Wow, that is…"
"Strong?" Elise choked.
"Not strong enough, if you ask me," Myria said in her usual, bored tone.
Gwyn stared down at her drink, scared she might get too drunk too quickly.
"I'll just sip now."
Suddenly, the music turned from a soft and slow cadence to a much faster rhythm, sending dozens of elves to the dance floor.
Astrin placed her drink down, not intending to finish it.
"Oh yeah! This is an adequate jam. Who wants to dance?"
"Adequate jam?" Myria snorted. "That's one way of putting it."
Elise pulled Gwyn to the dance floor.
"I would love to dance."
Astrin pulled Myria, who was initially reluctant. But eventually, everyone succumbed to the music and began to dance.
They often danced alone, but sometimes made moves to dance with those around them. Elise frequently told her classmates to vote for her if they hadn't already. Gwyn noticed her heart rate would increase dramatically when she danced with Elise, making the endeavor particularly exhausting.
When she was in the midst of swapping partners, Gwyn felt a strong pull towards someone, her face an inch from theirs.
"Artero!" She said with surprise. "Where have you been?"
He grabbed Gwyn's hand and twirled her around.
"I had to take care of something."
Gwyn danced with joy, but suddenly found herself being twirled into someone else's arms.
Elise wrapped her arms around Gwyn's neck.
"Hey."
Gwyn's cheeks flushed.
"Hey…"
"Are you having fun?" Elise yelled over the music.
Gwyn nodded.
"Yeah, I'm glad you showed up!"
Elise laughed.
"I just had to get ready! My hair was not cooperating."
"So, what do you—"
Gwyn felt herself being pulled away again.
Her hands suddenly were in Artero's, a certain sultry quality to his voice.
"Are you having a good time?"
"Yes, I am, I was just explaining to Elise that—"
Elise pouted and grabbed Gwyn's other hand. They began playing a game of tug-of-war with Gwyn's body as they had all those months ago.
"Hey! You had your turn already," Artero complained.
"For like two seconds, you can have the next song."
Gwyn then felt her arms become slick, and she slipped free from both their grips, and they crashed into one another.
Astrin gave Myria a high five.
"Nice, good use of your weird spell."
"You never know when it'll come in handy."
Gwyn lurched forward into the crowd. She hadn't known what just happened, but she was thankful it had. She wanted to catch her breath for a moment. Their rivalry was making her dizzy.
Gwyn stepped off the dance floor and ran into her elementary teacher, Mrs. Farcroft.
"Gwyn!" Her former teacher squealed excitedly, reaching out with her arms.
Gwyn reciprocated the hug.
"Mrs. Farcroft!"
"You look amazing!"
"Thank you… You look… good too," Gwyn said, unsurely.
Mrs. Farcroft laughed.
"Don't lie to me. I look horrendous. They asked me to be a chaperone last minute."
Her teacher took a sip of the red drink in her hands.
"Ah, sorry, I was just trying to be polite."
"You're fine, dear. Want to step over here to chat?"
Gwyn nodded and followed her former teacher to chat.
~
Artero and Elise had collided, conking their heads together.
"Ow!" Elise cried out. "Why did you do that?"
"If your head weren't so full of rocks, it wouldn't hurt as much," Artero quipped.
Elise huffed.
"What did you say?"
"You heard what I said. Look, you made Gwyn run off just as I was about to win her heart forever!"
"With those dance moves?" Elise laughed. "You dance like you read those moves in a book."
Artero looked offended.
"I didn't read them. I listened to them."
Elise rolled her eyes.
"As if that's much better."
He was ready to turn, just as someone bumped them closer, their hands accidentally falling into one another. Their faces were only inches apart.
"Oh, s-sorry," Elise stammered.
The music transitioned from an upbeat tempo to a slow dance melody. People all around her fell into one another.
They seemed to be having the same thought, bewitched by the music.
Artero swallowed hard.
"Would you… Like to dance?"
He wondered why he was suddenly possessed by nervousness.
Elise nodded, and she lifted her hands to wrap around his neck gently.
Artero placed her hands on her waist and slowly moved to the rhythm.
~
"I heard about that!" Mrs. Farcroft gasped. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine now. That psycho has been trying to ruin my life because I'm dating her ex."
Mrs. Farcroft looked quizzical.
"Um… don't tell me… Artero, right? Artero Kosmairian?"
Gwyn nodded.
Her former teacher appeared delighted.
"Oh, yeah. He's a hottie. If I were six hundred years younger…"
"Mrs. Farcroft!" Gwyn exclaimed.
"What?" She smiled bashfully. "He's hot! Is that a crime for me to admit?"
"No, but… It's weird hearing your former teacher talk about those kinds of things."
"Oh, I was like your teacher for a couple of days, you couldn't be too attached to me." She smiled and took a sip from her glass. "And I hate to break it to you, teachers are as broken as everyone around us. We just hide it better."
I haven't thought of it like that.
"I mean, you don't appear old. You have it going on, so to speak."
"I know." She fluffed her silver hair. "But I jest with you, I'm happily married. I don't need anyone other than my hubby."
Her brows suddenly furrowed.
Gwyn turned to where she might be looking.
"What's wrong? Why are you making that face?"
"Is that Artero Kosmairian dancing with Elise Sylvian?"